Parliamentary questions
Alasdair Morgan
518 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Oct 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the statement by the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that materials "must be demonstrably from sources that respect the human rights of those employed in their production, and do not employ child labour" (The Herald, 26 September 2000), how it is intended to establish w…
Answer · David Steel: I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group (HPG) that the inclusion of the stipulation, quoted from the tender documentation for the MSP block "cladding" package, goes beyond the statutory requirements for contract tendering, unde…
26 Oct 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what the meaning is of "identical characteristics" in the part of the specification for the granite cladding of the MSP block of the new Parliament building which states "Granite: Kemnay (Aberdeen) or Creetown (Galloway). Alternatives providing identical characteristics may be considered".
Answer · David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that,<B> </B>in the context of the specification for granite cladding, "identical characteristics" means that the "essential nature" of any alternative stone offered must be "…
26 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many paintings owned by the national collections in Scotland are (a) on display in public galleries, (b) on loan to government departments, (c) on loan elsewhere, (d) in store and (e) not in any of the above categories.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The information is set out in the following table. The figures are drawn from the catalogue of the permanent collections of the National Galleries of Scotland and include paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, miniatures and some sculpture including medals…
26 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for six of the trustees of the National Library of Scotland to be appointed by the Faculty of Advocates and what the reasons are for its position on this issue.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The National Library of Scotland Act 1925 provides for the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates to be an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees, and for five other members to be appointed by the Faculty. The statutory provision reflects the National Library's…
25 Oct 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Railtrack regarding rail services in south west Scotland.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Railtrack on a wide range of operational matters.
17 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what total cost has been incurred by West of Scotland Water during September and to date in October to resolve problems with the water supply in Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The current estimate of the cost for the remedial measures is £30,000.
17 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is for permanent improvements to the water supply in Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Investigations are continuing to determine the extent of works that must be undertaken to provide a permanent solution. The current estimate of the cost of the investment necessary to achieve a permanent solution is £950,000. This estimate will be refined as …
3 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9668 by Sarah Boyack on 21 September 2000, what the value was of the environmental benefits calculated for each of the two quarries in Scotland surveyed in the DETR research project, The Environmental Costs and Benefits of the Supply of Aggregates, p…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Phase 1 of the research (published in April 1998) concluded that the potential environmental benefits lie mainly in the restoration of former quarries. These include the creation of recreational amenity and sports facilities; after-use as an essential service…
3 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9668 by Sarah Boyack on 21 September 2000, what the value was of the environmental costs calculated for each of the two quarries in Scotland surveyed in the DETR research project, The Environmental Costs and Benefits of the Supply of Aggregates, publ…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The costs were not broken down by individual quarries.
5 Sep 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8951 by Sarah Boyack on 18 August 2000, whether it will undertake an exercise to provide a quantitative estimate of the monetary environmental costs resulting from quarries located in Galloway and Upper Nithsdale.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: UK research on <I>The Environmental Costs and Benefits of the Supply of Aggregates</I> was published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in July 1999. This surveyed a number of quarries, including two in Scotland, to derive a monet…
30 Aug 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils in Dumfries and Galloway have received incorrect or incomplete notification of their Standard Grade or Higher results.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The administration of the examinations is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However they have informed me that there were 242 review cases at higher level, and 119 at standard grade. All of which have been resolved.
2 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of deer numbers in the area around Rockcliffe and Kippford in Kirkcudbrightshire.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for The Deer Commission for Scotland, who have, along with Forest Enterprise and private forest interests started an ongoing programme of monitoring deer stocking densities in woodlands in South West Scotland. The area around Rockcliffe and K…
28 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental costs result from the quarries located within Galloway and Upper Nithsdale.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Potential adverse environmental effects stemming from quarry development may include noise, vibration, dust, increases in heavy lorry transportation, visual intrusion, loss of amenity, and damage to biodiversity and landscapes.
28 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the impact of the proposed aggregates levy on the cost of road maintenance and road building.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No such assessment has been made. The aim of the proposed aggregates levy is to reflect, in the price of aggregates, the environmental costs imposed on society by quarrying. The public sector will face these costs in the same way as private business. The levy…
28 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the Small Towns Initiative.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: In November 1999 the Planning & Evaluation unit and the Competitive Place Directorate within Scottish Enterprise commissioned a review of the Small Towns Initiative. This review was carried out by the consultant Malcolm Watson and was completed in May thi…
19 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost per month is of maintaining the estate of the former HM Prison, Penninghame.
Answer · Jim Wallace: £8,620.
4 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7805 by Ross Finnie on 23 June 2000, how many farm businesses received payments under both the Common Agricultural Policy Market Support arrangements and the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance together totalling (a) #0 to #12,500; (b) #12,501 to #…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The number of farm businesses which received payments, for scheme year 1999, under both the Common Agricultural Policy Support arrangements and the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance together as a total was as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(a) £0 to £12,500 …
4 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many orange disability badges are currently held by individuals resident within Scotland broken down by local authority.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The details, from the information we have available at 31 March 2000, is as follows:-<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=512><TR><TD WIDTH="58%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=17><P>Local Authority</TD><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=17><P ALIGN="CENTE…
4 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) applications were granted and (b) what was the value of assistance given to each local authority in each year since the RSA was introduced.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The number and value of RSA offers accepted for each local authority, since 1 April 1996, is given in the table below. Detailed information on grants in the form requested is not readily available prior to local government reorganisation and could not be prov…
3 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had or plans to have with Her Majesty's Government on the effects of discharges from Sellafield on the Scottish environment following the vote taken at the OSPAR convention on 29 June 2000 in favour of stopping nuclear reprocessing.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues, including the effects of discharges from Sellafield on the Scottish environment.
3 Jul 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what EU funds have been spent on transport improvements in each year since 1997 broken down by project.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Of the seven Scottish Structural Funds Programmes which ended on 31 March 1999 only the Highlands and Islands Objective 1 and Dumfries and Galloway Objective 5b had Priorities and Measures dedicated to transport improvements. Details of spend by yea…
27 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many health visitors are currently employed in Scotland and (b) how many of these are currently absent from work (i) through stress-related illnesses and (ii) for other reasons, broken down by NHS Trust
Answer · Susan Deacon: There are currently 1,698 health visiting staff employed in the NHS in Scotland. The breakdown by Trust is shown below.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Information regarding numbers currently absent from work is not held centrally. A working group has been set up to establ…
27 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) Grant Aided Expenditure and (b) Aggregate External Finance was allocated to Dumfries and Galloway Council in both cash and real terms in each year since 1995.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Dumfries and Galloway Council's allocations of Grant Aided Expenditure and Aggregate External Finance since 1995 are listed below, expressed both in cash and in real terms, using the September 1999 Retail Price Index.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACI…
13 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what process is used to allocate and distribute funding from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust across Scotland.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has two development officers based in Scotland who support and advise Scottish voluntary and community groups in the development of their applications to the Trust for funding. The assessment of these applications is kept dis…
13 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any sections of the A76 have a higher than average accident rate and, if so, which sections these are.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Based on the accident record for the last three years, the sections of the A76 which have a higher than average accident record are as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">1. Dumfries Bypass to Auldgirth<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">2. Thornhill Village (South) to A702 Junction, …
13 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of heavy goods vehicles entering Scotland through the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan have a final destination outside Scotland.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: This information is not held centrally.
13 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many heavy goods vehicles entered Scotland through the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan in each of the last five years.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The latest information available is shown below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=630><TR><TD WIDTH="13%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="45%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=3><P ALIGN="CENTER">Inward traffic at Stranraer<P ALIGN="CENTER">(thousands of…
12 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local Abbeyfield societies or Abbeyfield Scotland were included in the consultation list for Regulating Care and the Social Services Workforce.
Answer · Iain Gray: Although neither Abbeyfield Scotland nor local Abbeyfield societies were on our original consultation list, Abbeyfield Scotland, the Abbeyfield Stewartry Society Limited and the Abbeyfield Dumfries Society Limited all provided detailed responses to the consul…
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many farm businesses received payments, in the most recent year for which figures are available, totalling (a) #0 to #12,500; (b) #12,501 to #25,000; (c) #25,001 to #50,000; (d) #50,001 to #75,000; (e) #75,001 to #100,000; (f) #100,001 to #150,000 and (g) over #150,000 under (i) the C…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The number of farm businesses which received payments under (i) the CAP Market Support arrangements in the stated bands for scheme year 1999 are as follows: <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(a) £0 to £12,500 	13,184<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(b) £12,501 to…
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the additional annual cost would be of replacing the current fares structure on subsidised ferries with a road equivalent tariff scheme.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.